On April 29th, Gery Short, Director of the Office of Education for the District of San Francisco, was honored at the 2009 Convocation held at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga with the degree of Doctor of Educational Leadership Honoris Causia.

Gery has been associated with the De La Salle Christian Brothers for over thirty years. The connection began in 1978 with his first assignment as a teacher of religious studies at Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, where he eventually become Chairperson of the Department. In 1985, he moved to the District Office of Education as the Coordinator for Lasallian School Programs, overseeing Lasallian formation activities for administrators, faculty , staff and students. Ten years later in 1995, he was named Director of the Office of Education for the District of San Francisco. Here, his responsibilities grew to strategic planning and implementation of services for the District’s schools, their administrations, boards and staff.

Throughout his association with the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Gery has been a proactive force in maintaining the mission of the Founder. He played a significant role in the planning and the foundation of four new Lasallian schools and was on the task force that began the nation-wide Lasallian Leadership Institute. His influence has ranged from serving on the Regional Educational Board since 1996 to the production of educational videos and Lasallian readings. With the meeting of the District Mission Assemblies in 2002 and 2006 and the formation of the District Mission Council in 2004, Gery served pivotal positions as new roles for Lasallian Partners were formalized.

In the international Lasallian world, Gery’s involvement is extensive as well. He was a member of the International Commission on Association from 2001-2007. As a Lasallian Partner, he attended the 1993 and 2000 General Chapters and chaired the 2006 International Assembly on Mission. His participation in boards and committees throughout the District, Region, and International Institute has been wide-ranging and has provided him with a unique understanding of the Lasallian world.

In accepting the honor, Gery said, “I recognize that I represent a movement. I represent those lay men and women who work in a Lasallian institution, college, or school and have discovered their vocation within the context of the Lasallian mission . . . . lay men and women who, in partnership with the Brothers, are deeply committed to assuring that the Lasallian mission is made more authentic, adapted for our times and situated in order to expand, to enhance our impact on more students, especially those who are most underserved.”

Gery is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1975. He also holds graduate degrees from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and the Franciscan School of Theology, also in Berkeley. In 1992, he added a Master of Science Degree in Human Resource Management and Organization Development from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. As Director of the Office of Education, Gery serves on the Leadership Team for the District of San Francisco. He lives in Sonoma with his wife, Rosanne, and their three children.

An in-depth report of the ceremony and the text of Mr. Short’s address is available at Saint Mary’s College website at http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/news-and-events/item.html?ID=3280